Strategy Card Game Method of Play

ABSTRACT

A strategy card game where multiple players use point and action cards paid for by dice rolls in order to accumulate a specified point total. The embodiment incompasses buff/debuff cards to facilitate the strategy aspect of game play with each player taking turns in sequence until one player reaches a predetermined point total and is declared the winner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Not Applicable

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment this game is a novel strategy card game that utilizes dice in combination with action and point cards to create a fun fast paced card game. However, the game components may take other forms, such as a board game, or the game may be played in different media, such as electronic games, video games, computer games, and interactive network.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a depiction of a playable action card that includes a random die cost in order to initiate the action.

FIG. 1B is a depiction of a playable point card that includes a random die cost in order to initiate the distribution of that point card toward players total point count.

FIG. 2 is an example of a single players game area with example cards in play for explanation of game play functionality.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 & 8 Name of Card

2 & 9 Card Artwork Space

3 & 10 Card Type

4 & 11 Card Action

5 & 12 Flavor Text

6 & 13 Die Cost

7 Point Value

14 Card turned to show in play

15 Cards played on the field

16 Cards in the staging area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2 First Embodiment

One embodiment of the strategy game is illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. The game play layout is illustrated in FIG. 2. The game as described in the above mentioned embodiment is for one to four players wherein the players battle and strategize against each other in an attempt to be declared the winner. This incarnation of the game is generally played by each player obtaining an opening hand of 5 randomly selected cards from the main deck. The deck is placed face down in an area reachable by all players after first being shuffled. Each player obtains an opening hand of a predetermined number of cards from the deck; executes a turn to enter into play the staging area up to three cards that can be of any combination of action or point cards. The steps of executing a turn by each player is described below. The purpose to reach the required points in order to be declared the winner.

1. Draw

2. Discard any, all, or no staged cards

3. Place up to three cards in staging area

4. Roll/Spend Dice

5. Execute paid cards into play area

6. Play Buff/debuff Actions

7. Discard extra cards in hand

8. End Turn

1. Draw

The player begins the turn by drawing one card randomly from the top of the deck and puts it in the player's hand. If there are no cards in the deck to draw from than the discarded cards are reshuffled and redistributed as the new draw deck. There are action cards that after cost being paid can add or subtract from the number of cards to be drawn during the players draw phase.

2. Discard Any, All or No Stage Cards

The player decides at this phase to change strategy by either discarding action or point cards placed in the staging area. Players can change any number from all to none of the currently staged cards in play. If no cards are in the staging area the player will move to the next phase.

3. Place Up to Three Cards in Staging Area

The player then places up to three playable cards from their hand into the staging area. The action or point cards are then displayed face up on the table in the players staging area thus showing intent of what the player would like to bring into play. These cards played do not count toward the point goal and do not have any effect on any players until they are paid for and entered into the playing field.

4. Roll/Spend Dice

The player then rolls the predetermined number of dice. In the basic game with no added theme the number of dice starts with 5 dice. There are action cards that after cost being paid can add or subtract from the number of dice to be rolled during the players roll phase. All dice are then compared to the Action/Point cards in the staging area. The player makes decisions based on the dice roll toward payment of cards.

5. Execute Paid Cards into Play Area

The player now executes any paid cards into the play area. Each card has a cost to play that requires a matching die be added onto the card in place of the die picture. All dice pictures must be completed with matching dice and then the paid for card can be placed into the play area. Point cards are immediately placed into the “in play” area and count towards the player's point total. Action cards are placed into the “in play” area and actions are determined at this point according to the text on the individual action cards.

Action Cards contain text that when, after each card has been paid for according the specified dice roll, can speed up the player's ability to earn points cards, hinder the opponent's ability to earn point cards, limit the dice rolled per turn, or increase dice roll per turn for the player. The text is changeable to support the increased enhancement of the basic mechanic of gameplay dependent upon the different themes. For example, this embodiment includes named action cards such as buff, debuff, protection, and enhancements whereas the themes are produced within the same scope of this game mechanic the cards could be labeled differently such as Clue, Wild Theory, Evidence, and other enhancements according to a detective themed playing deck.

Point cards contain text that when, after each card has been paid for according to the specified dice roll, count towards the player's point totals. The purpose of the game is to achieve a specified amount of points paid for and entered into the player's “In Play” area. In the basic implementation of the game the points cards are referred to as “point ”. For example, the point card could be called “completed case” in a detective themed embodiment, but still be the same mechanic as the player would receive the same benefit of the point!

Play Buff/Debuff Actions

The player now initiates action against other players by assigning the cards from the “in play” area onto either the player or opponent players during this phase. If played on opponent players the cards are placed in the “applied debuffs” area. The specific text on the buff/debuff cards may add a dice to the players dice roll each turn, or remove a die from the dice roll during the players turn. Some Buffs will allow the player to draw an extra card during the draw phase, allow the player to steal point cards form the other players “in Play” areas, or even dismiss a buff or debuff that has been played against the player. In this embodiment a name for cards that create an action or change an action in game play are referred to as Buff/Debuff.

Discards Extra Cards

If the player has more than five cards in their hand, cards must be discarded to bring the hand down to five. The discarded cards may be those of the player's choice. The player may at times have this discard amount augmented dependent upon buffs or debuffs being in play.

End Turn

The player announces that their turn has come to an end thus beginning the next players turn phase. Play continues until the a winner is declared according to the point amount agreed upon before play commences.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, various thematic cards or decks may be added to the game that have additional features and effects on play including changes to the text and or titles used in play for buffs, debuffs, action, or point cards to support the different themes. The method of play using dice to pay cost per card to be brought into play will remain being only altered by a determination of either dice roll higher or lower as a possible embodiment while still remaining the core method of gameplay. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalent, rather than by the samples given. 

I claim:
 1. A method of playing a combined card and dice game, which comprises: Providing a predetermined set of printed rules; Providing one deck of cards wherein each side of said cards having differentiating graphic and symbolic task symbols drawing placed on it; Providing each player five varied color die having six different sides, each side of said die being identified with a numeral of 1 thru 6; Providing two white die having six different sides, each side of said die being identified with a numeral of 1 thru
 6. Providing and shuffling the deck of cards, placing said cards in a neatly stacked deck with all faces of said cards facing downward and placing them in the center of the circular arrangement of players, so to have reachable access of said cards; Providing each player is to receive 5 cards for their starting hands from the shuffled deck of cards; Providing for actual start and playing of said dice and card game to begin, wherein, the player determined to be the first player proceeds with the turn phases.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises each player executing turns in sequence with other players going in sequence by drawing, playing and discarding game components in accordance with the rules until the game ends, said step of executing a turn comprises: (a) player one draws one card from the top of the shared deck placed in the middle of all players. (b) player discards any, all, or no staged cards. (Note that this turn phase actually comes into play after the first turn due to the fact that each player has no cards to in the staging area during the beginning turn. (c) player then decides based on advantages and player strategy up to three cards to place down the in staging area. Placing said cards where the dice face on each card is visible for all players. (d) player rolls the dice, the player rolls 5 dice (augmented during the progression of the game according to offensive or defensive cards that are paid and put into play. (e) the player uses the dice roll to determine which, any, or all the staged cards the player can pay the cost of and enter into play. (1) Each card in the staging area will have pictures to depict the dice rolls needed in order to pay the cost of the cards. (2) The player determines which cards will be paid for and brought into the players playable area or which cards will be partially paid for; if 3 dice are needed and only one dice matches player may elect to place that singular dice on the picture on the individual card as a holding place for the dice cost. (3) That dice is not rerolled but remains until subsequent dice are rolled to match the remaining cost of the card or a decision is made to discard the staged card as not completed and replace with an alternate staged card in it's place. (4) Dice can only be used to pay cost of staged cards once per players turn. Method of play as referenced to item 4, if you play 3 cards that require the roll of a 2 dice then that 2 dice can only be used once to pay cost of only one card. (5) Some turns the player has the possibility to bring all three staged cards into play with the completion of the 5 dice rolls to pay for the cost of the 3 staged cards. (f) the player executes paid cards into the active play area either on the players side or the opponents side dependent on the individual strategy card type. the player card may affect play immediately, the player card may be saved in player area to cause effect at a later offensive time in the progression of strategy card game, the player will immediately play point cards tot (g) the opponent player at this time plays defensive cards that they have paid the dice cost of and have saved in their play area for use to cancel ill effects of offensive cards being played by the current player. (h) the player discards cards from hand in order to maintain a set hand size according the predetermined set of rules (I) the player announces that the player ends turn.
 3. The method according to claim 1 where each player proceeds with the turn phases according to the method referenced in claim 2 until such time as a player reaches the predetermined point total to be declared the winner. 